Heather Stearns picked up the loss in her debut, going 3.0 innings, allowing six hits, four runs, four earned and striking out three.

Baylor threatened in the first, as Kaitlyn Thumann reached on an error to open the game. Shelton’s single over the third baseman rolled down the left field line to put runners at first and second with no one out, but Holly Holl popped up a bunt for the first out. Linsey Hays grounded into a fielder’s choice and Whitney Canion struck out to end the threat.

Stearns, working the first inning of her career, got the Redbirds to go in order with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.

Illinois State took the lead in the second, as an RBI-single and RBI-double gave ISU the two-run cushion.

The Redbirds began the fourth with a pair of hits before Liz Paul came on in relief and got two quick outs. Following an intentional walk to load the bases, Paul walked in a run and hit a batter to make it 4-0. An RBI-single from Regan Romshek gave Illinois State the 5-0 lead.